Apparatus for feeding bagasse-furnaces



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. J. FISHER. APPARATUS FOR PEEDING BAG-ASSE PURNAGBS.

No. 564,918. Patented July 28, 1896.

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J. FISHER.

APPARATUS POR PEBDING BAGASSE PURNACES.

No. 564,918. Patented July 28, 1896.

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(No McliKL) v 3 Sheets-Sheet J. FISHER. APPARATUS POR PEBDING BAGASSEPURNAGES. l No. 564,918. Patented July 28, 1896.

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TIE- E- UNITED STATES',

vPATENT OFFICE.

JAMES FISHER, OF NEV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BAGASSE-FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming* part 0f Letters Patent N0. 564,918, dated. July28, 1896.

Application filed May 22,1896. Serial No. 592,624. (No model.) Y

To .all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES FISHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, Vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Feeding Bagasse-Furnaces; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be afull, clear, and eX- aet description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for feeding bagasse tofurnaces, and has for its object to provide an improved means forfeeding the bagasse to a furnace whereby sparks are prevented fromescaping from the mouth of the furnace, and the bagasse is more equallydistributed over the grate-bars of the furnace than is possible with thedevices now most commonly in use.

My invention consists in certain novel fea-- tures. and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same partsare indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure l represents a vertical sectional view through my feedingapparatus, taken on the line 1 l ofFig. Fig-2 isahorizontal sectionalview taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and shows the feeding apparatus inplan view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line3 3 of Fig. l, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a side view of one ofthe brackets for supporting the dischargingrollers and looking towardthe top of the sheet in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4,showing a modification in which a lower roller is used in connectionwith the bladed roller; and Fig. 6 isa partial side elevation showingthe feeding-rollers as driven from a blast-engine instead of from thecarrier.

A represents an endless carrier connected either directly or indirectlywith the mill and driven by any suitable source of power. This carrierruns over the drum B, mounted rigidly upon a shaft C, journaled insuitable supports M4. A gear-wheel c on this shaft C meshes with agear-wheel c on the shaft C', also journaled in the supports M4, anddrives the said shaft C', which latter carries a sprocket-wheel D fordriving a chain E for rotating the feeding-rollers, as hereinafter morefully described.

M represents an inclined chute, upon which the bagasse is dischargedfrom the endless belt A. This chute is supported at its upper end bymeans of brackets m5, secured to supports M4, or in any suitable way,and at its lower end by means of brackets M', which are secured, as atm2, to the front wall of the furnace, as shown in Fig. l. side pieces M3and a hinged portion M2 in its bottom. This hinged portion M2 may beraised orlowered upon its hinges m3 bymeans of ropes m6, secured at oneend, as at m4, to the hinged portion M2 of the bottom of the chute andreeving over elevated pulleys O. The reason for having this middleportion of the chute hinged, as shown, is to allow it to be lowered inorder to permit access to the front of the boiler for cleaning out theiiues when desired, or for dumping the bagasse into carts if the furnaceis stopped for any reason.

S represents the furnace-opening through which the bagasse is fed. Theremay be one opening for each furnace, if preferred, or there may be onecontinuous opening for all, as shown.

T represents the gratebars of the furnace, and 15 represents one or moredoors through which the mass of fuel upon the grateT may be stirred.

t' represents one or more ash-doors which allow access beneath thefurnace-grate.

U represent boilerswhich communicate with the common smoke-boX V,surmounted with smoke-stack W. These boilers may be of any well-known ordesired form, and that shown is simply for the sake of illustration.

The brackets M', one being upon each side of the lower end of the chuteM, have each a pair of vertical'bifurcated standards m and lm boltedthereto, and journal-blocks go and (10 are adapted to fit into thesebifurcated standards lm and m', respectively, at 'either side of thechute, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4f. A shaft G is journaledinthe blocks go in the upper one m of the bifurcated standards, and worksin slots ho in the sides vM3, and a roller H, having radial ribs orblades h and circular end disks h", is mounted This chute has IOC uponthis shaft G. A sprocket-wheel F is mounted upon one end of the shaft G,and the sprocket-chain E, driven by the sprocketwheel D on the shaft C,passes over said sprocket-wheel F and drives the roller H. A shaft Q isjournaled in the blocks q@ in the lower one m of the said bifurcatedstandards, anda roller R, having radially-extending teeth q thereon, ismounted upon said shaft and rotates therewith. The shaft Q works inslots To in the side pieces Main like manner as the shaft G in the slotsho. A sprocketwheel Q is provided upon one end of said shaft Q, andasprocket-chain P, passing over this sprocket-wheel,is driven by thesprocket'- wheel G" on the shaft G, and rotates the roller' R in thesaine direction with the roller H. Coil-springs g and q are held betweenthe bifurcations of the standards fm and m' in position to bear upon thejournal-blocks gO and Q0 by means of plates s and s. These springs arefor the purpose of holding the rollers down against the tendency theywould have to rise when a large bulk of bagasse passes beneath them.

The bagasse after being discharged upon the chute M slides down to thebladed roller I-I, which is constantly revolving, and which feeds thebagasse along to the toothed roller R. This toothed roller should begeared so as to be driven somewhat faster than the bladed roller, andtears the mass of bagasse passing beneath it to pieces, and throws itoff into the furnace, distributing the same evenly over thefurnace-grate.

IVhere the furnace is to be fed through more than one opening, or whereseveral furnaces are used with a separate opening for each furnace,partitions may be formed on the chute and the rollers may be dividedinto sections, and intermediate brackets and bearings be provided. Thesides Mof the chute extend up above these rollers, so that the bagassecannot fall over therefrom, and plates N, held in position by means ofguides n, secured to the sides M3 and slotted to t over the shaft of therollers H and R, are arranged to rest upon the shafts G and Q and riseand fall therewith in order to close the slots in the sides M3 above thesaid shafts.

A door K, preferably of metal, isA hinged, as at k, above the opening tothe furnace and projects forward and upward therefrom and rests uponlugs fn', projecting inwardly from the sliding plates N. This door justfits in between the sides of the chute, and thus, being practicallyair-tight, prevents the escape of any sparks which might otherwise flyout from the mouth of the furnace. As the roller H rises and falls, thedoor K will swing up or down upon its hinges, its forward end at alltimes resting upon the lugs n on the plates N immediately above theblades of the said roller.

If desired, I may use another roller H', journaled in suitable bearingsI, secured to the brackets Mx', immediately beneath the roller H, anddriven from said roller H by means of gears G2 and H2 on theY shafts ofthe said rollers H and H', respectively, as shown in Fig. 5. In thiscase the upper surface of the roller H would rotate through a transverseslot in the door of the chute M. I also may drive the feeding-rollersfrom a blast-engine, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein a b'eltx from theengine X drives a pulley x' on the shaft Q of the toothed roller, whichin turn drives the bladed roller I-I.

It will b'e seen that many modifications of my apparatus might be madewhich could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire -to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with afurnace having an opening in the front thereof for the admission of fuelabove the grate, of an inclined chute adapted to receive the bagasse atits upper end from an elevated carrier and supported at said end in anelevated position by means of brackets, brackets secured to the front ofthe furnace and supporting the lower end of said chute, a roller havingradial blades mounted across the said chute near its lower end inbearings in said brackets, and means for driving said bladed roller, anda roller having radial teeth also mounted across said chute at its lowerend in bearings in said brackets, and gearing between said rollers fordriving them in the same direction, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with afurnace having an opening in the front thereof for the admission offuel, of an inclined chute adapted to receive the bagasse at its upperend from an elevated carrier and supported at said end in an elevatedposition, brackets secured to the front of the furnace and supportingthe lower end of said chute, a roller having radial blades mountedacross said chute near its lower end in bearings in said brackets, andmeans for driving said bladed roller, a second roller having radialteeth also mounted across said chute at its lower end in bearings insaid brackets, gearing between said rollers for driving them in the samedirection, and a door pivoted to the front of the furnace and adapted toextend over said rollers, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with afurnace having an opening in the front thereof for the admission offuel, of an elevated chute adapted to receive the bagasse at its upperend from an elevated carrier and supported at said end in an elevatedposition, brackets secured to the front of the furnace and supportingthe lower end of said chute; a roller having radial blades thereonmounted across the said chute near its lower end in bearings mounted insaid brackets and capable of vertical move- IOO los

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ment therein; means for driving said bladed roller; a second rollerhaving radial teeth also mounted across said chute, at its lower end invertically-movable bearings in said brackets; gearing between saidrollers for driving them in the same direction; and a pivoted doorsecured to the front of the furnace above the fire-opening and extendingover said rollers, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination witha'furnace having an opening in the front thereof for the admission offuel above the grate, of an inclined chute adapted to receive thebagasse at its upper end from an elevated carrier and supported at saidend in an elevated position; brackets secured to the front wall of thefurnace and supporting the lower end of said chute; a portion of thefloor of said chute being hinged and adapted to swing downward; ropesreeving over elevated pulleys and attached to said hinged portion forraising and lowering the same; a bladed roller mounted across the saidchute near its lower end in bearings vertically movable in saidbrackets, and means for driving said bladed roller; a roller havingradial teeth also mounted across said chute at its lower end in bearingsvertically movable in said brackets; and gearing between said rollersfor driving them in the same direction, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with afurnace having an opening in the front wall thereof for the admission offuel; of an inclined chute adapted to receive the bagasse at its upperend from an elevated carrier, and supported at said end in an elevatedposition; brackets secured to the front of the furnace and supportingthe lower endY of said chute; the middle portion of the floor of saidchute being hinged and adapted to swing downward ropes reeving overelevated pulleys and attached to said hinged portion for raising andlowering the same; abladed roller mounted across the said chute near itslower end in bearings vertically movable in said brackets, and means fordriving said bladed roller; a toothed roller also mounted across saidchute at its lowerl end in bearings vertically movable in said brackets;gearing between said rollers fordriving them in the same direction; andv a door pivoted to the front of the furnace above the fuel-opening andextending over said rollers and adapted to rise and fall with saidbladed roller, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the Acharacter described, the combination with afurnace having an opening in the front thereof for the admission offuel, of an elevated chute adapted to receive the bagasse at its upperend from an elevated carrier and supported at said end in an elevatedposition; brackets secured to the front of the furnace and supportingthe lower end of said chute; the middle portion of the floor of saidchute being hinged and adapted to swing downward; ropes reeving overelevated pulleys and attached to said hinged portion for raising andlowering the same; a bladed roller mounted across the said chute nearits lower end in bearings vertically movable in said brackets; means fordriving said bladed roller; a toothed roller also mounted across saidchute at its lower end in bearings vertically movable in said bracketsgearing between said rollers for driving them in the same direction; anda door pivoted to the front of the furnace above the fuel-opening andextending over said rollers and adapted to rise and fall with saidbladed roller, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination with afurnace having an openin g in its front wall above the regrate, and anelevated carrier driven from any suitable source of power and runningover an elevated drum, and a sprocket-gear mounted upon the shaft ofsaid drum; of an inclined chute havin g its upper end supported beneathsaid drum; brackets secured to the front wall of the furnace andsupporting the lower end of said chute in front of the fuelopeningtherein; a bladed roller mounted across said chute near its lower end invertically-movable bearings in said brackets, and having a sprocket-gearon the shaft thereof; a sprocket-chain passing over said sprocketwheeland over the sprocket-wheel on the shaft of said drum and driven by thevlatter sprocket-wheel; a toot-hed roller also mounted across saidchute, immediately in front of the furnace-opening -in bearingsvertically movable in said brackets; gearing between said rollerswhereby the two are driven in the same direction; and a door pivoted tothe front of the furnace above the fuel-opening and adapted to extendover said rollers and rise and fall with said bladed roller,substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with afurnace having an opening in its front wall above the firegrate, and anelevated carrier driven from any suitable source of power and runningover an elevated drum, and a sprocket-gear mounted'upon the shaft ofsaid drum; of aninclined chute having its upper end supported beneathsaid drum; brackets secured to the front wall of the furnace andsupporting the lower end of said chute in front of the fuelopeningtherein; the middle portion of the floor of said chute being hinged andadapted to swing downward; ropes reeving over elevated pulleys andattached to. said hinged portion for raising and lowering the same; abladed roller mounted across said chute near its lower end invertically-movable bearings in said brackets, and having a sprocket-gearon the shaft thereof; a sprocket-chain passing over said sprocket-gearand over the sprocket-gear on the shaft of said drum, and driven by thelatter; a toothed roller also mounted across said chute, immediately infront of the furnace-opening in bearings ver- IOO IIO

ticallymovable in said brackets; gearing between said rollers wherebythe two are driven in the same direction; and a door pivoted to thefront of the furnace above the fuel-.Opening and adapted to extend oversaid rollers and normally rest upon said bladed roller, substantially asdescribed.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with afurnace, having an opening in its front wall above the firegrate, and acarrier driven by any suitable source of power and running over anelevated drum, and a sprocket-gear mounted upon the shaft of said drum;of an inclined chute having its upper end supported beneath said drum;brackets secured to the front wall of the furnace and supporting thelower end of said chute in front of the f uel-openin g therein; verticalbifurcated standards on said brackets; vertically-movable journal-blocks mounted in said bifurcated standards; a bladed rollermounted across said chute nearits lower end in one pair of saidjournal-blocks, and having a sprocket-gear on the shaft thereof; asprocket-chain meshing with said sprocketgear and the sprocket-gear onthe shaft of said drum and driven by the latter; a toothed roller alsomounted across said chute immediately in front of the furnace-opening inanother pair of said j ournal-blocks gearing between said rollerswhereby the two are driven in the same direction; and a metallic doorlpivoted to the front of the furnace above the fuel-opening, andextending over both of said rollers and adapted to rise and fall withsaid bladed roller, substantially as described.

l0. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with afurnace, having an opening in its front wall above the liregrate, and anelevated carrier driven from any suitable source of power running overan elevated drum, and a sprocket-gear mounted upon the shaft of saiddrum; of an inclined chute having its upper end supported beneath saiddrum; brackets secured to the front wall of the furnace and supportingthe lower end of said chute in front of the fuel-opening therein; themiddle portion of the said chute being hinged and adapted to swingdownward; means for raising and lowering said hinged portion; bracketssecured to the front wall of the furnace and supporting the lower end ofsaid chute in front of the fuel-opening therein; vertical bifurcatedstandards on said brackets; vertically-movable journal-blocks mounted insaid bifurcated standards; a bladed roller mounted across said chutenear its lower end in one pair of said journalblocks, and having asprocket-gear on the shaft thereof; a sprocket-chain meshing with saidsprocket-gear and the sprocket-gear on the shaft of said drum and drivenby the latter; a toothed roller also mounted across said chuteimmediately in front of the furnacef Openinsin another pair ofSadjournal-blocks; gearing between said rollers whereby the two aredriven in the same direction; and a lnetallic door pivotedto the frontof the furnace above the fuel-opening, extending entirely H across saidchute between the sides thereof above said rollers, and adapted to riseand fall with said bladed roller, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus for feeding bagasse to mounted in vertically-movablebearings across the lower end of said chute; a bladed roller for feedingthe bagasse to the said toothed roller also mounted in verticallymovablebearings across the lower end of said chute; means for driving saidrollers; a metallic door hinged to the f ront of the furnace above thefire-door and between the sides of said chute-and extending over saidrollers, and supports for the outer end of said hinged door, adapted torise and fall with said bladed roller, substantiall7 LS described.

12. In an apparatus for feeding bagasse to furnaces, the combinationwith an inclined chute provided with raised sides and supported at itslower end by brackets secured to the wall of the furnace; a toothedroller mounted in vertically movable bearings across the lower end ofsaid chute, and adapted to throw the bagasse off therefrom over thegrate-bars of the furnace; a bladed roller also mounted in verticalmovable bearings across the lower end of said chute; means for drivingsaid rollers; slotted plates mounted in guides upon the sides of saidchute and belting over the shafts of said rollers, and adapted to riseand fall therewith; lugs extending inwardly from said plates; and ametallic door hinged to the front wall of the furnace above thefire-door thereof, tting between the sides of said chute and extendingover said rollers and resting at its outer end upon saidlugs,substantially as described. In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES FISHER.

Witnesses:

NV. R. M. WHITNEY, JOHN J. Sanoma.

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